The Grenada gazette., 1887-09-17

wasn't so much the name itself or the
handwriting like a custom house clerks,
as it was the look of good breeding
about the handsome young chap, which
sailor clos and a suspicion, Of board
ing house whisky couldn't hide.
For he wasn't the first well brought
mp fellow that's been driv' reckless by
one thing or another-generally speak
ing, a woman-and drifted off to sea.
Such one is pretty sure to hide his
self under a nom dee ploom. as the
French call it, rather than drag . de-
cent family name into dirty to'cslc.
Twenty-Five years ago l did the same
thing, and to-day I'm as surely lost at
sea to those | left behind, as though
was laying on bottom in sixty fathom.
"Maybe Jack suspicioned something
Of this. ! don't always talk sea slang
even aboard ship. And occasionally q
bit of my old self which has got par
eelled over with tarred canvas and
served with spun yarn shows through
where the wear and tear Of sea life has
ehafed. Any way, after we was chose
in the same watch, he picked me out
for chum. But to this day l don't t
know what his name was. He was
Jack Tarr to the end of the chapter.
The Sunderland was an old ship
deep loaded with general cargo from
New York to Yokohama, Japan. There
were two lady passengers in the cabin,
though we for ard never laid eyes on
'em by reason Of sea sickness till the
ship was thirteen days out in good
weather to the south ard Of the Ber-
moodas.
was to the wheel the first morning
Miss Doris come ON deck--it being
bright and tolerable smooth, with a
warm wind well aft Cap'n Jones fixed
her stool to wind ard of the wheel and
left her, not being much used to lady
passengers. But for the first few
mlnnits !. being younger than l am
now, l couldn't take my eyes off'n her.
Ny word though. sir, she was a hand
some piece; straight as the r'yal pole,
with hair and eyes like a Spanish
se'1orita's, and smilc--well. it would
set mans heart to beating every
time.
1t was Jacks relief at four bells.
remember thinking as he come swing.
ing along to oo'ard, that he was what
the story papers used to call the beau
MeM OF a sailor He was nigh six foot,
with broad shoulders, slim waist,
clear skin just touched with sea-tan
and one OF them silky black mustaches
that most young wimmin like to feel
against their own upper lip.
AS Jack stepped on the wheel graf.
ing, a lee lurch come nigh to upsetting
Miss Doris stool and he sprung for ard
just in time to straighten her up. Her
shade bat flew off--and for minnit
don'no which turned the palest- OF
Jack.
my Cod" heard him say low.likc,
hnt he pulled hisself together, and
when he took the spokcs and l give
him the course his face were 40 hard
and set rs craven imSge. Miss Dori.
jest glanced at him once with dretfu]
frighted look in her big black eyes and
went below, while l started for'art
"marveling.' as the good book says
Well, what little Jack chose to tell
me IN the watch below wasn't any
thing new nor strange-further thar,
the coincidence that they too should
have happened aboard the same shin
four years after she'd played with hia
heart and tossed II back when she sot
tired. BY reason Of which " allowed
that big life was ruined, 20 he went "a
s's devil aAying, listed in the navy,
was discharged and shipped IN -
Sunderland after hir snrsn.